Back to album

Poinsettias

Poinsettia Facts

 

Poinsettias are native to Mexico.

*

 

The Aztecs called the poinsettia Cuetlayochitl.

*

 

Chile and Peru called the poinsettia the "Crown of the Andes."

*

 

Poinsettias are part of the Euphorbiaceae family. Many plants in this family ooze a milky sap.

*

 

In nature, poinsettias are a perennial flowering shrubs that can grow to ten feet tall.

*

 

The showy colored part of poinsettias that most people think are the flowers are actually colored bracts (modified leaves).

*

 

The flowers or cyathia of the poinsettia are in the center of the colorful bracts.

*

 

Poinsettias have been called the lobster flower and flame leaf flower.

*

 

Poinsettias are not poisonous.

*

 

A study at Ohio State University showed that a 50 pound child who ate 500 bracts might have a slight tummy ache.

*

 

A fresh poinsettia is one on which little or no yellow pollen is showing on the flower clusters in the center of the bracts.

*

 

Poinsettias represent over 85 percent of the potted plant sales during the holiday season.

*

 

Ninety percent of all poinsettias are exported from the United States.

*

 

Poinsettias were introduced into the United States in 1825 by Joel Poinsett.

*

 

Poinsettias are commercially grown in all 50 states.

*

 

California is the top poinsettia producing state.

*

 

December 12 is National Poinsettia Day.

*

 

The Paul Ecke Ranch in California grows over 80 percent of poinsettias in the United States for the wholesale market.

*

 

Ninety per cent of all the flowering poinsettias in the world got their start at the Paul Ecke Ranch.

*

 

There are over 100 varieties of poinsettias available.

*

 

$220 million worth of poinsettias are sold during the holiday season.

*

 

Seventy-four percent of Americans still prefer red poinsettias; 8 percent prefer white and 6 percent pink.

*

 

Eighty percent of poinsettias are purchased by women.

*

 

Eighty percent of people who purchase poinsettias are 40 or older.

*

 

Poinsettias are the best selling potted plant in the United States.

*

 

Poinsettias are the most popular Christmas plant even though most are sold in a 6 week period.

*

 

Sixty million pots of poinsettias were grown in 1997.

*

 

The cost of a poinsettia is determined by the number of blooms.

 

2,686 views
1 fave
1 comment
Uploaded on November 11, 2006
Taken on June 5, 2006